Rockwell model T

Two years ago I backed the Model -T and I had high hopes. Over the intervening years, I became skeptical that they would ever be able to fulfill their campaign. I decided that to find out how difficult it would be to make a one-off razor that was similar. A friend of mine has a machine shop and I set the challenge for him: using the Kickstarter page and a Gillett fat boy, could he replicate the Model-T. On the following weekend, I went to his shop and there it was. A fully stainless steel TTO. It looked a bit different from the Model-T but none-the-less, he completed the challenge in about 5 hours. He told me that Stainless steel was hard on the tools but that he could probably make 40 per day. Of course, that's after the CNC lathes would be programmed, the cost of making jigs and all that. He estimated a cost of about $40,000 for tooling. (Later he adjusted his estimate to $75,000).

Materials cost could be as low as $15.50 and labour about $7.50. Then with packaging, he stated that he could produce the razor for $25 each, with a price point of around $50.00.

So, I knew it could be done.

I posted to the Kickstarter comments and got kicked out of the project. I suppose I could have been more diplomatic and all that, but I was frustrated.

A few months went by and I saw a new Kickstarter project for the Parthenon Razor (by Qshave). Fingers crossed, I backed the Parthenon Razor. This time I was determined to shut my yapper and just let it happen.

Wouldn't you know it, Qshave actually was legit! I received the Parthenon Razor a couple weeks ago.

The blades are evenly centered in the head unit and the gaps are consistent on both sides. I have sensitive skin and I found the shave very comfortable. So far, after six shaves, I'm very happy with my investment. I think the blade has one more good shave in it before I toss it.

The adjustment dial turns smoothly and the weight of the razor is really good. I am satisfied that this razor will last me many many years of great shaves.

So... I learned valuable lessons: STFU if you want to get a product from Kickstarter or ask for a refund, and my friend is a tooling genius.

We would all love to have a cnc milled fatboy modern tool. Why not start a Kickstarter - I am sure you can sell at $150 a piece and you'll find it up for grabs !

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what he said, send ur machinist here and tell him to introduce his prototype via pics and possibly video

I just happened to be on the Rockwell site and actually saw another review. Yes, a total of 2 reviews but the 2nd one is not actually a review but, a warning and complaint. I’m assuming from a fellow backer. I’m actually surprised that it is still up and hasn’t been taken down yet. It looks like if Rockwell has another delay in shipping these razors, all hell is about to break loose. Can’t say I blame folks about this problem and potential company ending fiasco....

Pics are of poor quality, sorry late and sleepy...

I’m only a grizzled spectator in this, but I think people generally undervalue the work that others do and the value of their experience. Rockwell started as a great idea for the 6S from two college students with no idea how to make it happen. They got lucky, and the switch to MIM saved their bacon. The 6C was a smart business move, and not exactly rocket science. Kudos to them for a brilliant entrepreneurial beginning!

Then, overconfident but still inexperienced, they leapt blindly out on a limb with crazy promises for a new toggle. They simply had no idea what they were getting into. At the point where they realized they could not do it all in steel, they probably should have given back as much of the money as they could and moved on. Instead, they keep flushing good money after bad.

I’m not slamming the current form of the razor. It may work fine; I don’t know, but I think it has lost a lot of its potential market. I’m also not slamming Rockwell - I think they’ve learned a hard lesson, and I hope it doesn’t sink their business.

We would all love to have a CNC milled Fatboy modern tool. Why not start a Kickstarter - I am sure you can sell at $150 a piece and you'll find it up for grabs!

I asked him (the machine shop owner) about this and he has no interest in it. He makes a lot more money doing other work. As for the custom razor, he tossed it. He prefers the Schick 5 blade cartridges.  

As for me, Nah. There are enough great quality razors out there.

We would all love to have a CNC milled Fatboy modern tool. Why not start a Kickstarter - I am sure you can sell at $150 a piece and you'll find it up for grabs!

I asked him (the machine shop owner) about this and he has no interest in it. He makes a lot more money doing other work. As for the custom razor, he tossed it. He prefers the Schick 5 blade cartridges.  

As for me, Nah. There are enough great quality razors out there.

Sorry, but sounds like bullshit to me. 40 razors per day at potential profit per razor of $125 according to your numbers if he retailed for $150, and he’s not interested? Yeah, right.


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He’d still have to market and sell those razors. Machinists are used to making and selling quantity. $150/pc razors aren’t going to turn him on unless a retailer buys 100+ at a time.


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He’d still have to market and sell those razors. Machinists are used to making and selling quantity. $150/pc razors aren’t going to turn him on unless a retailer buys 100+ at a time.


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Lol... you could outsource marketing on temp contract to establish distribution. 600 razors would payback investment in equipment if that isn’t already amortised in the COGS (or not able to be repurposed for other production). Rockwell had 4K backers. Could easily be set up as a side business. If this were actually true.


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We would all love to have a CNC milled Fatboy modern tool. Why not start a Kickstarter - I am sure you can sell at $150 a piece and you'll find it up for grabs!

I asked him (the machine shop owner) about this and he has no interest in it. He makes a lot more money doing other work. As for the custom razor, he tossed it. He prefers the Schick 5 blade cartridges.  

As for me, Nah. There are enough great quality razors out there.

LOL I'm sorry man but I have to call you out on this one, tell me which one are you: a troll, a shill or a professional bullshitter?

I do NOT believe a fully-burdened COGS of $25. I suspect there was some swagger and hyperbole in that number.

That said, if the shop is full and has a backlog already, then yeah I can believe that he would turn away business.

I do NOT believe a fully-burdened COGS of $25. I suspect there was some swagger and hyperbole in that number.

That said, if the shop is full and has a backlog already, then yeah I can believe that he would turn away business.

And yet have time to do a test piece and then toss it away ! If he would tossed it to the famous online auction way, he would have made quite a fortune already as the world's only fatboy clone in stainless steel !

And if he's able to turn a clone in a few hours in his spare time all he has to do is make 5 or so for week and the Wolfmann guy can take some rest off his machines for a while !

Edit : Also Joe at ItalianBarber will have to stop selling his three piece SS razors at the $50 price point. Who wants an expensive three piece SS razor when we have a 10+ moving parts adjustable TTO razor in stainless steel at the same price point !

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